Molecular characterization of mutations in gyrA, parC, rpoB, and aadA1 genes of human Brucellosis

<p>Brucellosis or Malta fever is a life-threatening systemic human infection and one of the most common zoonotic diseases worldwide, causing considerable public health and economic problems. The Determination of antibiotic susceptibility profile of Brucella spp. in each region or country is clinically important and has essential role in epidemiological studies and infection control policy planning. The present study aimed to determine the occurrence of the most common antimicrobial resistance genes among Brucella spp. isolated from Iranian patients.</p><p>This cross-sectional multicenter study was conducted on non-repetitive blood specimen from patients suspected to have brucellosis for a period of two years from January 2015 to January 2017 referred to hospitals in Tehran, Ahvaz, Hamadan, Qazvin and Mianeh in Iran. The presence of mutations in gyrA, parC, rpoB, and aadA1 genes within Brucella isolates were investigated by PCR method.</p><p>Ninety-one blood samples were included in this study. Presence of the Brucella spp. was confirmed in 52 (55%) samples molecularly. PCR screening for the presence of antibiotic resistance mechanisms showed that 26 (50%), 4 (7.7%) and 2 (3.8%) of isolates were positive for aadA1, parC and gyrA genes, respectively. None of the isolates contained rpoB genes. Concurrent presence of parC/aadA1genes was found in 3 (5.8%) of isolates.</p><p>In conclusion, this is the first study to investigate the frequency of antibiotic resistance mutations in Brucella isolates in Iran, detecting antibioti resistance-inducing mutations to commonly used antibiotics.</p&gt